The Tenant Assistance Program - Paving the Way for Rent Relief, Not Rent Control

With the leaves falling and days growing shorter, this is our signal the Washington State Legislature will soon be in session and the battle over rent control begins again.  Like a recurring dream, the nightmare of rent control keeps coming back to haunt rental housing providers every legislative session.  

But rather than having the same rent control nightmare over and over, why not dream of finding a way where tenants can afford to stay in their home when they are facing an acute, short-term financial hardship rather than dictate a rent control policy that has proven to be disastrous in other parts of the country. Why not have a rent relief program rather than a rent control directive to help alleviate this discomfort? 

RHAWA, along with community leaders and other stakeholders, has proposed a short-term economic stimulus program for tenants so they can afford to stay in their homes when they are facing an unexpected financial challenge because of a health matter, an employment issue, or some other unanticipated life situation.  Federal, state, or local funding could be earmarked for the program.

Coined the Tenant Assistance Program (TAP), this proposal would help renters cover a portion of their rent for a period of time so they can stay in their homes and financially get back on their feet.

How would TAP work?
TAP would require the participation of the local public housing authority (PHA) located in the jurisdiction in which TAP is created.  The PHA would establish a proportional payment standard for their service area to provide rental assistance for seniors, low-income families, and members of marginalized communities living in rental housing. The program would be locally designed to meet the needs of that community.

The PHA could provide a “housing gap voucher” to any resident who qualifies for rental assistance.  The “voucher” payment would be used to fill the “gap” between what the renter can afford to pay and their agreed-upon lease payment with the housing provider.  Ideally, the TAP would be used for only a short period of time rather than an ongoing subsidy as a mechanism for a tenant to be provided rental assistance to be able to stay in their home during their financial crisis.

The Tenant Assistance Program is a bold and innovative concept and will likely be met with skepticism from hard-core tenant advocates.  Ironically, recent history in Washington and other states show it’s the policies promulgated by these same hard-core advocates that are the root cause of our housing crisis -- and combined with our government’s lack of adequate funding for mental and substance abuse treatment are the leading causes of homelessness in our state.

While TAP won’t end homelessness or help find treatment beds for those suffering from addiction or mental illness, it can provide a bridge for those who are facing a precarious financial challenge allowing them to stay in their homes and get back on their feet.